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Illinois football has played, but never beaten, these teams

By Rees Woodcock

ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 2: Head coach Nick Saban of the Louisiana State University Tigers takes the field against the Georgia Bulldogs during the game at Sanford Stadium on October 2, 2004 in Athens, Georgia. The Bulldogs won 45-16. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 2: Head coach Nick Saban of the Louisiana State University Tigers takes the field against the Georgia Bulldogs during the game at Sanford Stadium on October 2, 2004 in Athens, Georgia. The Bulldogs won 45-16. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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DENTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 27: Sincere McCormick #3 of the UTSA Roadrunners takes the handoff from Frank Harris #0 against the North Texas Mean Green at Apogee Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Denton, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
DENTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 27: Sincere McCormick #3 of the UTSA Roadrunners takes the handoff from Frank Harris #0 against the North Texas Mean Green at Apogee Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Denton, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

16. UTSA – 0-1

  • First Loss: September 4, 2021
  • Last Loss: September 4, 2021

Bret Bielema inherited a rough team in 2020, and in his first year, there were some rough moments. One of those moments was the only time Illinois has ever played Texas-San Antonio.

In that game in 2021, the Illini had an opportunity to start 2-0. This never happened, as UTSA would shut our running game down and keep the Orange and Blue in check. On the back of Sincere McCormick’s 117 yards on the ground, UTSA would take down Illinois, 37-30.

17. Texas A&M – 0-2

  • First Loss: September 27, 1975
  • Last Loss: October 2, 1976

Illinois would play a home-and-home against Texas A&M in the 1975 and 1976 seasons. These would be the only two times they would play each other in the history of college football.

The first game was the least competitive, as the Aggies would trounce the Illini, 43-13. Illinois fared a little better in the second game, only losing to Texas A&M by a score of 14-7. The Illini would run into a great Aggies program that went 20-4 in the two seasons we played them.

18. Tulane – 0-1

  • First Loss: September 26, 1970
  • Last Loss: September 26, 1970

The final team on the list of programs Illinois has played but never beaten is the Tulane Green Wave. The only time the two teams played was in 1970, and Illinois had a bad team that season.

After beating Oregon in the first game of the season, the Illini would fall to Tulane, 23-9. This would be the start of Illinois losing seven out of the final nine games to finish the season 3-7. Tulane, on the other hand, would go 8-4 and beat Colorado in the Liberty Bowl.

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